Home / Urban / Ethan Storm’s Dark Awakening / 30

Author: Magical Inspirations

2025-05-24 11:11:58

Ethan exhaled as he scanned the balance again—$1.02 billion.

He had more than enough. No one could outbid him.

A surge of relief washed over him, mingled with adrenaline. The Crimson Halo was as good as his.

Then Theo’s voice crackled through the phone again, suddenly more hesitant.

“Sir… there’s one more thing.”

Ethan’s eyes narrowed. “What?”

“In this country, foreign funds are restricted for private auctions like this. You’ll need to use a local account with a certified local banking card.”

Ethan went still.

“What do you mean I can’t use my money?”

“You can, just not directly. You’ll have to transfer the funds into a domestic account first. Otherwise, the auction committee won’t accept your bid.”

Ethan ran a hand down his face. “Jesus. That’s a ridiculous rule.”

“They’re paranoid,” Theo said. “Everything is designed to prevent tracking, laundering, government eyes… you know.”

Ethan gritted his teeth. “Alright. I’ll handle it.” He disconnected the call and dialed his private bank man

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37
Alice forced herself to remain calm despite the tightness in her chest. Her fingers were still trembling around the phone as she drew in a steadying breath. Then, lifting her chin, she addressed the gathering of tense relatives.“This meeting ends here,” she said, her voice surprisingly steady. The murmuring room fell silent.“There are urgent matters at the company that require my immediate attention,” she added, eyes scanning the crowd with guarded composure. “We’ll reconvene at another time. Thank you for your… concern.”Without another word, she turned and grabbed Ethan’s hand, striding briskly out of the estate without a single glance back.⸻Once inside the car, Ethan leaned back in the passenger seat, arms folded, expression unreadable. He didn’t speak until Alice had pulled out of the estate and turned onto the main road.“I heard everything,” he said quietly. “The call. Nova Corp’s investigator. One hundred million in damages…?”Alice’s grip tightened on the steering wheel, h
36
Ethan stood still, unfazed. His expression remained calm—almost too calm—as if none of the chaos touched him. His arms rested loosely at his sides, his eyes watching everyone with that same steady gaze.Alice opened her mouth to speak, but her voice was drowned out by the rising tide of jeers.Eleanor’s voice sliced through the air like a whip. “Alice, you will end this farce right now. Apologize to everyone and send this man out before we become the laughingstock of the entire city!”Alice’s father slammed his fist on a side table, nearly knocking over a crystal vase. “This is a reputable family! You dare bring in someone who preys on women and lies about his identity? It’s appalling!”Sophia, still smug, stepped up beside Belen and wrapped her arm around his. “We should all write directly to the Nova Corp board. Someone this lowly doesn’t just own a company. He fakes his way into it. The company deserves to know.”The room had become a mob. Nods all around. People whispering, “Yes,
35
When Ethan arrived at the Morgan estate, the atmosphere was stiff with expectation. Every head turned toward the door as the butler announced his name. He stepped in with quiet confidence, dressed in a simple navy polo and faded jeans, a sharp contrast to the grandeur of the estate and the designer-clad crowd. Murmurs erupted instantly. “That’s him?” “Is he wearing… sneakers?” “He doesn’t even look like he owns a car, much less a company…” Alice’s heart pounded as Ethan met her gaze and offered her a small nod, his calm presence steadying her nerves. But Belen scoffed loudly and strode forward, arms folded. “So, you’re the so-called mysterious boss of Secret Company?” he sneered. “Where’s your suit? Your bodyguards? Your watch isn’t even worth two hundred dollars!” Ethan’s eyes settled on Belen with a kind, amused smile. “Didn’t realize CEOs needed to wear a price tag to prove themselves. Is that how you measure power—by the glint on someone’s wrist?” Gasps. Belen flushed red
34
At that moment, Belen stepped forward, clearing his throat, wearing an expression of forced benevolence. He raised his voice, pretending to be magnanimous, but the false generosity laced in his tone didn’t fool anyone in the room.“Since Alice is fine,” he began smoothly, his eyes sweeping the gathering with deliberate weight, “it’s time she continues contributing to the family. The Irving family may be finished now, but rumor has it… the mysterious owner of Nova Corp has taken an interest in her.”A ripple of intrigued murmurs echoed through the room. Some nodded with greedy excitement, others leaned forward, already imagining the benefits such a connection could bring.Belen gave a slow, calculated nod, as if what he was saying was purely for Alice’s benefit. “So she needs to stop wasting time with that broke guy she met at the restaurant. I mean I saw her just hours ago with a broke guy at a restauran. It’s time to cut him loose and focus on pursuing the real prize—the boss of Nova
33
On the other side, within the grand walls of the Morgan estate, Alice stepped inside the heavy oak door.The grand hallway was bustling with voices and footsteps. Her mother, Eleanor, was the first to rise—her posture stiff, eyes blazing with anger as she cut through the murmurs of the assembled family. “Alice, Do you know what’s happened with the Irvings? And yet you return here unharmed?” Eleanor’s voice was sharp, edged with anger and suspicion.Alice’s heart sank. The weight of the question wasn’t concern—it was disappointment, disdain. Her father, Lawrence, and her grandmother, Margaret, sat on opposite ends of the room, their faces tight with disapproval. Her cousins exchanged uneasy glances, waiting for their chance to speak.Alice’s hands clenched into fists at her sides. She drew in a shaky breath and tried to steady herself. “You think I’m some fool to come back here and pretend like nothing happened?” she said, her voice cold, almost bitter. “You want to know why I’m here,
32
Just as Ethan was about to speak, a sudden force slammed into the suited man’s backside.“Agh—what the hell?!” the man screamed, stumbling forward and crashing to the floor in a graceless sprawl.The bank lobby fell silent in a heartbeat.He whirled around, face flushed with rage. “Who the hell just—?”His voice caught in his throat.Standing behind him, tall and fuming, was the bank president himself. His silver-rimmed glasses glinted sharply beneath the lobby lights, and in his hand—gripped like a weapon—was the unmistakable golden Supreme Card of Newman Bank.The suited man froze, stunned. “P-President…?”“Why is this on the floor?” the president demanded, his voice trembling with suppressed fury.“I-I… Sir, he dropped it—I thought—” the man stammered.“You thought?” the president cut in coldly. “Do you even know what this is? This is the Supreme Card of Newman Bank. Do you understand what that means?! Have you offended our Supreme client?”The suited man’s mouth opened, then close

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